Little Falls transcript., 1887-05-20

5IOuL EO4nAuSys GO remember AQQ cream
over your every word, TOTO love
you q 81
Instead of which said the pro-
lessor, cody.
care no more for you than I do
Tor that skeleton! Lou burst out, in
desperation. She pointed strait to.
my eyes, which weresleveled at them
from below madame's right elbow
joint, for ! had begun to ret tired, and
lop 9 little. You may. as we'll know
it all, she went on; the fact that we
are tied together by the approval of
the older teachers and the directors,
who think it most appropriate ar.
rangement, has made me almost hate
you at times. But it is not Professor
Charles, as q friend, I dislike; it is as
lover sz., !,
1.-THE professor had blushed clear to
his eyes at Louis harsh remarks, but,
compressing his lips as he does when
curbing his temper (for I believe he
has bit of his OWN, he said, still in
the same quiet tone: You used not
to feel SO strongly against me as q
lover, Lou. Have I been obnoxious
in any way, or has your fancy chang
ed?'
"If you will believe it, Lou CON-
menced to cry. Professor Charles sat
down close by. her side, and taking her
hands from her eyes, dried her tears
with his own handkerchief, and said:
Lou, l do not mean to be harsh
with you, although you have been
somewhat emphatic with me. Listen.
| am fully content to be your friend
your brother. But am sure you have
difficulties before you greater than the
dlscarding of an uncongenial lover. Is
there not one who has taught you to
know so we'll what love is? I knew
you never felt it for me, but thought
we might be happy in mutual esteem,
and that respect might grow into a
tenderer feeling; but l see the fallacy
of that now. Is there one for which
you really care? If so, l gladly release
you; but do not ask from mere curios-
ity. You will need my friendly Offices
to curb the expressions of displeasure
that will assail you; you will meet
strong opposition from all your
friends who are kind enough to like
me. Is it,
"He whispered a name in her ear.
Lou blushed crimson, bending down
her head for an instant; then raising
her eyes, she looked proudly at him.
Yes; it is George Lee; the grocer man!
He is not handsome, not distinguish
ed-plain OF speech and devoted to
business. The very antipodes of a
professor of ancient and modern liter
Of In
q word OF Greek, frets not his soul
with evolution or questions in theol-
ogy, but love him! You and have
literary taste and artistic ambition
in common-but love him. You are
handsome, cultured. the beau ideal OF
all my friends and associates of hus-
band tor me; he is joyous, hopeful,
generous, devoted to me, and l love
him!"
"How her eyes shone as she spoke!
Professor Charles regarded her with g.
quizzical expression, and added, as
she paused: And Lou, the fact that
he has made small fortune in his
wholesale store, on account of which
you call him grocer, and that he
owns a cosy home and drives pretty
turnout, does not hurt him g. bit, and
may in time stand off with your friends
against my distinguished appearance
and supposable culture Professor
Charles actually laughed-Lou seemed
surprised at him, as am sure I was
You know Ihave received the appoint
ment to Harvard l was so desirous
Of hecontinued: 'And-Lou, IbeIieve
| ought to make a confession to you.
| should never have allowed the
thought to come into being but for
your refusal of me for husband. /
ann beginning to feel a stronger affec-
tion for young girl than my engage
ment to you would have in honor per-
mitted. It is no more than fair to
tell you this, Lou, but it is so unlikely
that I shall ever win the heart of a
capricious girl when a areasonable wom-
an sees nothing in me to love- Lou
started to interrupt him, but he put
his fingers lightly upon her lips and
shook his head-"that l shall reserve
her name
"'Charles!" exclaimed Lou, jumping
up, let me kiss you! / was never so
near loving you as at this moment!
You are just as bad as I. We will de-
fend each other in mutual untruth as
lovers, and be always faithful as
friends
"sWe shall keep each others conf
dence, Lou he said, as they arose;
and you must go to rest. Good
night
1.-THE instant it was safe, you may
believe, l came out OF the horrible clos
ct and staggered to your door. Hon
estly, was never so tired in my life.
But" said Ben, looking around the
room upon her earnest listeners, "who
do you suppose it is? Ihope it is not
me, for, much as admire the profes.
sor, really couldn't reciprocate his
feelings, and 1t would be awful to have
him tilted again. But Florence, dear,
what is the matter?,'
Florence Healey arose, very pale,
and was hastily making her way out
of the room. ''You will have TO ex-
cuse me, girls. That ginger-or some
thing-has made me i'll. I should not
have eaten it. I will goto my room.
TO Ben's solictous ''Let me go with
you, Florence" she answered. "No,
no; shall be better soon," and she
wae gone. But kind-hearted Ben
softly followed the swaying white fig
ure to the turn in the long hall, to
know she was safe in Ter own CHAM
ber, when she saw tall form ap-
preaching from the other way. Flor
ence held out her hands as if about to
fall, and murmured: "Charles!''
The professor caught her to his
breast and kissed her sweetface as she
clung to him, and cried, joyously; "My
darling! / am free at last to tell you!
My own" ,.,s.ss.z r.
Ben came back into IA" nearly par
alyzed with this last shock. She soon
.rec0uarod hnwauer slffficianklu fn tell